XN000022-1992-07-21 — Page 2

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TUESDAY, JULY 21, 1992

GOVERNOR RECEIVES OFFER ON EXCO CHANGES

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GOVERNOR. THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, SAID TODAY THAT THE SENIOR MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, BARONESS DUNN, HAD WRITTEN TO HIM SAYING THAT SHE AND THE OTHER NON-OFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL WOULD BE HAPPY TO PUT THEIR OFFICES AT HIS DISPOSAL IF HE WISHED TO MAKE ANY CHANGES.

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER A MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL. MR PATTEN SAID: "TWO OF THIS MORNING'S NEWSPAPERS REPORTED THAT THE NON-OFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAD FORMALLY OFFERED ME THEIR RESIGNATION IF I WISHED TO CHANGE THE COMPOSITION OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.

THE GOVERNOR SAID BARONESS DUNN HAD WRITTEN TO HIM ON JULY 13.

A

MADE, AND

"I RESPONDED ON JULY 16. SAYING THAT I THOUGHT IT WAS HANDSOME OFFER FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL TO HAVE THAT AS THEY KNEW, I WOULD BE DISCUSSING THE ROLE AND FUNCTIONS COMPOSITION OF THE GOVERNING INSTITUTIONS OF HONG KONG; THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AND THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL PRINCIPALLY, OVER THE COMING WEEKS; THAT I WOULD WANT TO DISCUSS THOSE MATTERS WITH THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AND THAT I WOULD WANT TO RESOLVE THOSE ISSUES AS SOON AS WE REASONABLY COULD, BUT I REGARD IT AS A HANDSOME OFFER ON THE PART

OF THE NON-OFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.'

"IT SHOWS, ONCE AGAIN, THAT THEY ARE PREPARED то PUT THE INTERESTS OF HONG KONG, IF NECESSARY, ABOVE THEIR OWN PERSONAL INTERESTS," HE SAID.

I'VE TAKEN NO DECISION ON THE OFFER WHICH HAS BEEN MADE OTHER THAN TO WELCOME THE GENEROSITY OF SPIRIT IN WHICH THE OFFER WAS TENDERED TO ME," HE ADDED.

THE GOVERNOR SAID THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ALSO HAD A LONG DISCUSSION ABOUT COMMUNITY-WIDE PENSIONS.

"AS YOU KNOW WE ARE COMMITTED TO PUBLISHING A CONSULTATION DOCUMENT ON THAT ISSUE. THAT CONSULTATION DOCUMENT WILL BE COMING FORWARD IN DUE COURSE.

'I CAN'T GIVE YOU THE PRECISE DATE AT THE MOMENT BECAUSE THERE IS A LITTLE TINKERING THAT HAS TO BE DONE WITH THE DOCUMENT, BUT WE'LL BE ISSUING A CONSULTATION DOCUMENT AND WE'LL BE ISSUING A POPULAR VERSION OF THAT DOCUMENT, SO THAT PEOPLE WHO DON'T WANT TO READ AN IMMENSELY LENGTHY DOCUMENT ABOUT A RATHER COMPLICATED PENSION ISSUES, CAN NEVERTHELESS SEE THE THRUST OF THE PROPOSALS.

"IT IS,

I REPEAT, A CONSULTATION DOCUMENT AND MY GUESS GIVEN THE HISTORY OF THIS ISSUE THAT IT WILL GENERATE A GOOD DEAL DISCUSSION AND DEBATE.

IS.

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